The Charity Commission has given its formal permission for a charitable gift worth around £1bn to the British Museum to go ahead.
The collection of Chinese ceramics, which numbers around 1,700 pieces, is estimated to be the most valuable donation ever given to a museum in the UK.
Trustees of the Sir Percival David Foundation announced plans to make the donation in November last year, but this was not explicitly allowed for in the charity’s governing document.
The regulator has now authorised a change to the document to enable the collection to be permanently transferred to the British Museum.
Transfer meets ‘philanthropic intentions’ of founder
The collection, which includes ceramics gathered by late British businessman Sir Percival David, has been on loan to the British Museum since 2009.
The Sir Percival David Foundation was keen to manage the charity’s resources by transferring the costs of maintaining the collection to the museum.
Sir Percival David Foundation chair Colin Sheaf said: “Sir Percival was motivated by three principal concerns.
“These were to preserve the whole collection together for posterity, to display it publicly and safely in its entirety, and to ensure that his superb porcelain should not only be admired by connoisseurs for its beauty but should also educate the widest possible audience about China’s historic culture which he greatly admired.
“With the valued support of the Charity Commission, the foundation trustees have taken this major decision because they believe that this transfer entirely meets the philanthropic intentions and long-term wishes of the founder almost a century ago.”
Christine Barker, head of regulatory authority at the Charity Commission, said: “We are pleased to have given authority for this remarkable transfer to go ahead.
“The foundation’s trustees are clear that ensuring the safe and accessible display of their founder’s collection is fully aligned with their charitable objects.
“Our team are dedicated to considering such applications carefully, balancing the need to reflect changing circumstances against the importance of ensuring trustees safeguard their assets to pursue their charitable aims.”
Museum ‘humbled by generosity’ of gift
The collection includes the Doucai “chicken cup” used to serve wine for the Chenghua emperor and Ru wares made for the Northern Song dynasty court around 1086.
Nicholas Cullinan, director of the British Museum, said: “I am humbled by the generosity of the trustees of the Sir Percival David Foundation in permanently entrusting their incomparable private collection to the British Museum and thank the Charity Commission for their support in now approving the transfer.
“These celebrated objects add a special dimension to our own collection and together offer scholars, researchers and visitors around the world the incredible opportunity to study and enjoy the very best examples of Chinese craftsmanship anywhere in existence.”
According to its most recently filed accounts, the British Museum Trust, the charity which advances the charitable objects of the trustees of the museum, had an annual income of £4.5m.
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